Masterton Town Lands.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3430, 8 February 1890, Page 2

Masterton Town Lands.

.The ordinary monthly meeting of the- Trustees was held last nigh*. Present—Messrs W. "Lowes (ohairman),,U. P.Perry, K'.MoEwen.H. K. Eton, J. Graham, and A. W. Reiiall.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £Bl7elod.

A letter was read from Captain Pownall, of the Masterton .Rifle Volunteer Corps, applying for-per-mission to surrender the lease of tho present site of tho drill shed, aud permission to remove the buildnig to the section of Trust lands at tho. corner of Hall; and Chapol-street, part pf No i town ; acre. The Vrustees were asked, to appoint a committee to deal with the question. Mr Renal) expressed regret that the monies derived from the insurance 01; tlio late town hall, destroyed by fire, were not devoted to the! purpose of its re-erection. He thought .the Bite should be reserved for a town hall. Mr MoEweu suggested that it committee be appointed to meet Captain Pownall, and report aWho next meeting. Mr Eton asked if he understood that the Insurance money derived from the Town Hall had been appropriate by tl)9 Trustees and been expended. Mr Renall'said that was the case, Mr Eton said such a thing was disgraceful. The Chairman said that the question wu3 nit before the meeting but he might mention that the bulk of the money was found by the Trustees and only a small portion was provided by the public to found a maehaiiics institute whioh was oair.ed on in the same building. It was resolved that the .consideratiou of Mr Pownall's letter be held over until the special meeting on the 21th inst and the Captain of. the Volunteer force and Ins executive he invited to attend to discuss the matter. Accounts amounting to £B' lis wore passed for payment,. It was resolved that the animal grant to the Horougb of JiSO on the Library account be paid as funds permit. This concluded the busineEß.

A Model Watrarapi Farm' (By our Travelling Btiporter), In conducting the ordinary peregrinations throughout thu district to which-1 am subject, I recently had the pleasure of vh-iting what to my mind iyin every seniaoftlm term, ut " model fiirin," mid yjttr readers nwy not, therefore, olj.ct to my referring briefly to i'B chief characteristics Situated on tho Gladstone road. East Taratahi, about six miles from Maeterton, is the handsome little property to which I refer. The doll monotony created liy an undesirable visit to th>ho.and stony paths of the Taratahi plains iii broken as a huge two-storied edifice, encased it a forest of ornamental treoa, presents itself to my ►erutinisiug' view. Here prudence invites me to atop, and I mokes hall without consulting itself further on the matter. Approaching the entranc I iiflmlij in the distance a sialwari form-a form whioh to my eye appears familiar,—and as t gelnearei, (here, arranged in a costnmo of n successful and retired farmer, stands the widely-known and illusliiotts " Farcjubar Gray." With all tliH •couitoy of a true-born Scotchman I am invited hy my old friend to dismount and " cam m a wee," and it ut needles to sty the invitation is as hemtily responded to. After the ordinary congiatnlatnry remarks have heen passed J fuqr.iie of Mr Giay what melhoda have heen adopted in the conversion of this' land, which, a. f-w years since, Whs a desert swamp, into the hatidsorua.aiid up |ess |.r> lit. aide farm which now'presonts itself to mygji". In reply lam told that the 6-tQ acres of whioh it is composed, have beau lirought, in the small apnea ol aix y.ars, hy a atrict adherence to industry and fanning principles, to its prawn omditiin. Tho farm is divided into no less than fourteen Recnrely-feiice I paddooks, not includini; that on which k erected the lioitsu, lii front of this hnihlini> hi im ulahorste floral display, and vvxry hi'inoh of the botanfo world is here represented, S tinted at (he tear is one of the finest orchards in the district, compoced of no less than 200 fl miishing trees of every desoiiption, each laden with thu now ripening fruit, and oaverlns no less than 2| acre* of land. Adjoining is a Geld on which Mantis a couple of hci'ah nf tye, whioh MrGray informs me is tobe used fur the fattening of a number of inizashuep, which he keepa under his own personal supervision, On the same fi.-M is a fine' Btspk of harley, nhich Ins recently been out. Lookin» out upon tho fields we otaerve about fifty aorcsof oats, not yet cut, and admit the sane quantity of wheat, half "of which is now in, Besides these agricultural products, uu leu-t ihati 1000 shiep are grating peacefully on various sections, and 35 head of cattle and 15 horses are satis r yin« themaolves with the grass, which, despite the h»atof summer, is compai'ittivflly plentiful. The whole pioperty is well-drained, and water may Im seen courting gracefully down thu undulating slopes .which, to 11 g wit est 'nt, m, ike the land the it now undoubtedly is. Stretching away behind the humealead is a magnificent piece of lnuli, covering about GO acres, which addi materially to the enchantment of the scene. The lesidence of Mr Gray is complete throughout, anl oom|irises twelve heaiiiifnlly.furiiishod rooniß, with six fire jdacea, and a balcony in front from which the lucky farmer can veritably "view the landscape o'er" to. his heart's content, The whole farm, which for convenience cannot ha surpassed, and which I may say is one of tho best in tho Colony, is managed solely hy the eons of Mr Gray, and no outside labour is required. Altojethertheprorerty is a credit to the district, and more especially toljr Gray, who has for so many years conducted business in Masterton, and who has gained for himself, besides this pleasant borne, the esteem and respect of all with whom he Ims oatne in contact, .

The City Oiiunoil of Sydney re™!v«i tofl.Hta£2soQol;iir.|ierceiii loot jii Li ndo i lo ,n>et debautura' filing hi 91 July 1 n«t,